Main Content

[711College-Drinking]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

With a new school year getting under way for many local colleges, one of the issues at hand is underage drinking.
But, schools have come up with a new program that will get parents involved and hopefully control the problem. Kate Weidaw explains.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=this may be]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;:00]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Cullen/Judicial Affairs Director;:19]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:30]
[SUPER=01-Renee Tiedemann/Freshman;:40]
[SUPER=@Kate1;:59]
[SUPER=01-Steven Clarke/Alcohol Abuse Prevention;1:18]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=kw news 7]
((
[VIDEO 98-49 30:13]
This may be a familiar scene at colleges and universities across the country, underage drinking.
But Virginia Tech is trying to curb the use of alcohol by students under the age of 21 by sending a letter home if they are arrested for drinking.
[SOT 18:28]
[INQ=]
((JEFF CULLEN/DIR. JUDICIAL AFFAIRS: IN CASES OF SERIOUS ALCOHOL VIOLATIONS OR REPEAT ALCOHOL VIOLATIONS WE FIND THAT BRINGING PARENTS INTO THE CONVERSATION CAN BE HELPFUL TO BOTH THE PARENT AND THE STUDENT.))
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[RUNS:11]
The program started in January of this year and so far officials at the school say it has been a success. Parents seem to like it, but students have some reservations about it.
[SOT 17:38]
[INQ=]
((RENEE TIEDEMANN/FRESHMAN: I DON'T THINK I WOULD WANT MY PARENTS TO KNOW BECAUSE WHEN YOU COME TO COLLEGE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE INDEPENDENT AND I GUESS THAT MAKES YOU MORE DEPENDENT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:10]
This year the school is stepping up enforcement of the policy by making some additions.
[SOT 26:14]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: ALONG WITH THE VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS POLICE, THE BLACKSBURG POLICE, AND THE MONTGOMERY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAVE TEAMED UP TO HELP FIGHT UNDERAGE DRINKING.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:10]
The additional law enforcement will notify the school when someone is arrested off school grounds.
But if students have a serious drinking problem - help is there.
[SOT 13:33]
[INQ=]
((STEVEN CLARKE/COOR. ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION: WE INITIATED TWO NEW ALCOHOL EDUCATION CLASSES, WE'RE GOING TO BE INITIATING A NEW ALCOHOL PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:10]
And with experts saying alcohol use is on the rise among teenagers and young adults, the university says a letter to parents seems like a sensible response. Kate Weidaw News 7 Blacksburg.))

[711Rape-Prevention]

Rape is also a widespread problem on college campuses and it's usually after drinking.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
A date rape survivor told freshmen at Randolph Macon Woman's College that drinking accounts for over half the sexual assaults at colleges.
Allyson Kurker spoke about her graduation night when she was sexually assaulted.
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[SOT 19:26:33]
[IN Q=It wasn't]
((ALLYSON KURKER/ RAPE SURVIVOR: IT WASN'T GRUESOME, THERE WEREN'T WEAPONS, THERE WAS NO THREAT. THERE WAS SIMPLY A FRIEND OF MINE HOLDING ME AGAINST MY WILL TRYING TO HAVE SEX WITH ME.))
[SUPER=01-Allyson Kurker/Rape Survivor]
[RUNS=9]
[OUT Q=with me.]
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[VO-NAT]
School administrators think it's important to include sexual assault awareness programs during the first few weeks of school.
The introduction of more freedom and accessibility to alcohol make women more vulnerable.
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[SOT 19:39:37]
[IN Q=Young women]
((SARA JEAN WAGGONER/ ORIENTATION CHAIR: YOUNG WOMEN, WHEN THEY'RE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED -- THEY'RE AFRAID TO TALK. I THINK A PROGRAM LIKE THIS ENCOURAGES THEM TO TALK -- ENCOURAGES THEM TO COME OUT WITH IT.))
[SUPER=01-Sara Jean Waggoner/Orientation Chairperson;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=with it.]
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[VO-NAT]
It's a Virginia state law that every college include education on both sexual assault and alcohol awareness for incoming freshman.
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[711Net-Pirate]

Congressman Bob Goodlatte's No Electronic Theft Act nets it's first conviction.
A University of Oregon student pled guilty in federal court to criminal copyright infringement for trafficking in unlicensed software on the Internet.
University officials alerted police after the student's web site generated a large amount of traffic.
The NET Act makes it illegal to steal copyrighted works such as software programs and musical recordings.
Goodlatte introduced the Act in 1997.

[7WEATHER]

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Taking a look now at your Thursday forecast...it'll be partly cloudy with a chance of showers again. The temperatures will be in the low-to-mid 80's. Tonight will have variable clouds with some isolated showers. Temperatures will be in the mid 60's. The extended outlook looks....

[4511Akers]

A Roanoke man will be sentenced next month for murder and he's asking for a death sentence.
Thomas Akers says if he doesn't die he will kill again.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

The 30 year old was convicted of killing and robbing 24-year-old Wesley Smith last December.
He savagely beat him with a metal bat in a Franklin County field.
Prosecutor Cliff Hapgood read from a letter Akers wrote to him.
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[SOT 5:23:05]
[IN Q=I have no sympathy]
((THOMAS AKERS/CAPITAL MURDERER: I HAVE NO SYMPATHY OR REMORSE FOR BEATING WESLEY SMITH TO DEATH. IN FACT IT GAVE ME AN INTENSE ERECTION. WHEN I LOOK AT YOU AND THE JUDGE IN THE COURTROOM, I ENVISION TAKING YOU BOTH AGAINST YOUR WILL AND TAKING BOTH OF YOU TO A REMOTE AREA OF FRANKLIN COUNTY AND CAUSING YOU TO DIE OF A SAVAGE BEATING.))
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=savage beating]
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[VO-NAT]

Police caught Akers and his cousin driving the victim's car through a Native American Indian reservation in New York.
Akers will be sentenced in November.
His cousin's trial is next month.
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[4511Buford-Search]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-??]
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The search for a suspect in another murder continues for Roanoke police.
Timothy Buford is the prime suspect in the Saturday night murder of-Prentice Jordon at Easley's Restaurant.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Last night Roanoke police along with their Tactical Response Team went to the Lansdale Apartment Project on Delta Drive where they believed Buford was living.
[SOT 17:19]
[INQ=]
((POLICE WE HAVE A SEARCH WARRANT COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=:6]
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[VO-NAT]
Police blocked the streets off between 24th and 30th for protection.
However after the search was completed nothing was found.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((SHELLY ALLEY/ROANOKE CITY POLICE SPOKESPERSON: WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE MR. BUFORD IS DANGEROUS AND WE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES THE AREA WAS SECURED TACTICAL TEAM WENT IN AND HE WAS NOT FOUND.))
[SUPER=01-Shelly Alley/Roanoke City Spokesperson]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Officials say they went to that area after several phone tips saying that Buford was in the apartment.
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[4511Scales]

A Montgomery County jury will resume deliberations this morning in the trial of twin brothers.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Closing arguments in the case wrapped up yesterday afternoon.
The jury then began deliberating the case but about two hours later the 12 men and women decided to go home for the evening.
When they return -- they'll have to decide if kerry and Terry Scales were justified in shooting and killing a man inside a Blacksburg nightspot two years ago.
The twins say they shot 30- year old Richard Bullard in self defense -- a theory no one in the bar that night backed up except the suspects' relatives.
One of the twins is also accused of malicious wounding.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=He shot]
((SKIP SCHWAB/PROSECUTOR: HE SHOT MR. SHOEMAKER BECAUSE HE WAS COMING OVER TO HELP AND THEN HE TURNED-- MR. BULLARD WAS LAYING THERE AND PUT THE GUN IN HIS EAR AND PULLED THE TRIGGER BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE LEFT OUT BECAUSE HE AND HIS BROTHER DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER.))
[SUPER=01-Skip Schwab/Prosecutor;]
[RUNS=15 approx]
[OUT Q=everything together.]
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[VO-NAT]

The jury will resume deliberations at NINE o'clock.
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[4511Henry-Ax]

There's still no word on the condition of a Henry County boy who was hit by a car yesterday while walking to the school bus.
The 13-year-old is a student at Drewry Mason Middle School.
Authorities say he suffered internal injuries and broken bones.
The boy is in a North Carolina Hospital where he underwent surgery last night.

[4511Salem-Ax]

There is also no word on the condition of the driver of Truck that flipped over yesterday in downtown Salem.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Police say a car ran a stop sign was hit broadside by the pickup at the intersection of College Avenue and the Boulevard.
The pickup flipped over and skidded into another car.
The car that ran through the stop sign also hit a fire hydrant and three tractors in a parking lot.
The driver of the truck was taken to Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
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[45WEATHER]

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Turning our attention now to weather...
Partly cloudy today, with a chance of showers.
Highs in the low to mid 80s.
Variable clouds overnight, with isolated showers possible.
Lows near 65.
The five day forecast dries out once we head into tomorrow and Saturday...then we could see more rain by Sunday.

Highs in the 80s...lows in the 60s.
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[SUPER=314-Partly Cloudy/Chance of Showers/80-85/Variable Clouds/Isolated Showers/62-66;]

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[SUPER=@Melanie1;]

[8amusement-park]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
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The Shockwave roller coaster at Kings Dominion will reopen today.
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[VO-NAT]
[99-20]
It's been closed since Monday night, after a 20 year old man was killed on the ride.
An official with Paramount Parks says its reopening the standup roller coaster because an investigation shows the accident was the result of rider misconduct.
A spokeswoman says the ride and the safety restraints were operating as intended.
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[anchor=melanie]

But four other rides at other Paramount Parks will remain closed indefinitely following the weekend death of a bo

y at one of its amusement parks in California.[811Cranwell]

Volunteers and supporters from the 14-th legislative district came to the Lancerlot Fitness Center in Vinton to celebrate.
Cranwell says this year he plans to focus his attention on education and health care.
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[SOT 31:13]
[IN Q=I think]
((DEL. DICK CRANWELL/(D) VINTON: I THINK LAST YEAR WE STARTED THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE HEALTH CARE ISSUES BACK INTO THE HANDS OF PATIENTS AND THEIR DOCTORS AND TAKE THEM OUT OF HMOs.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Dick Cranwell/(D) Vinton]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=out of HMOs]
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[VO-NAT]

Cranwell says his favorite part about campaigning is getting back to the grass roots -- by knocking on doors and asking what the people want for the future.
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[811Fralin]

For one local Republican candiate, tax relief is major campaign issue.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

State Senate candidate William Fralin says the two hundred dollar increase of the state's personal income tax exemption in 1986 is not enough.
If elected, Fralin vows to double the personal exemption... which now stands at 800 dollars.
(------------)

United Parcel Service has decided to pull half of its business from the railroad.
Since N-S and C-S-X took over Conrail in June ... there's been a huge traffic jam in the Northeast.
Packages haven't been delivered on time.
And U-P-S says that's "unacceptable."
Norfolk Southern said losing half of its U-P-S business is a "significant loss."
(------------)

For brief periods of time Wednesday, Bedford seemed to have all the water it needed and then some.
But the rain that has forced residents to dust off their umbrellas still isn't enough to ease the city's water woes.
Bedford's reservoir is more than five feet below the spillway.. and mandatory restrictions on use of outside water remain in place.
[SOT 14:26:18]
((CRAIG MEADOWS/BEDFORD CITY MANAGER: BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO DRY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE RAINFALL THAT'S FALLING IS PRETTY MUCH BEING ABSORBED INTO THE GROUND PRETTY QUICKLY AND THE THING THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE RESERVOIR IS WATER THAT RUNS OFF, AND IT REALLY TAKES A FAIR AMOUNT OF RAIN TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=to that level.]

On the agricultural side, all this precipitation may be too little, too late for area farmers.
Beef cattle weigh less, dairy cows are producing less milk.. and the corn and hay crops farmers rely on for winter feed have been cut in half.
[SOT 14:14:21]
((SCOTT BAKER/BEDFORD CO. EXTENSION AGENT: MOST OF THE CORN CROP IS AT A STAGE WHERE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL NOT REALLY IMPROVE THE CONDITION MUCH. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE A LATE FALL CUTTING OF HAY, BUT AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, THE ODDS OF THAT ARE DWINDLING.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=are dwindling.]

Baker says no amount of rain can offset what is turning out to be one of the three worst droughts Virginia has seen this century.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Bedford County.))

[8WEATHER]

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Let's check out the forecast once more this morning--
Partly cloudy today, with a chance of showers and highs in the lower 80s.
Variable clouds overnight, with a few isolated showers.
Lows dropping into the mid 60s.
The extended outlook turns partly to mostly sunny for the first half of the weekend...with scattered showers possible again by Sunday.
Highs in the 80s..lows in the 60s.